How To Install Windows 8 Using Virtualbox

In my previous post, I wrote about the release of Windows 8 Developer Preview and mentioned that I’m downloading the ISO. Now, I have successfully installed Windows 8 Developer Preview on my computer using Virtualbox. Why Virtualbox? Sure, there are plenty other choices such as VMware or VirtualPC but a lot of reports of failed installation on those virtual machine software. Since I’m more familiar with Virtualbox, let’s just go with it.

Oh, before getting into the installation process, please make sure your computer supports Hardware Virtualization and if you do, just make sure you turn enable it via BIOS. This installation of mine was carried out on a 2.9GHz AMD Athlon II X4 635 running Windows 7 64bit using Virtualbox version 4.0.12 r72916.

Assuming you already have your copy of Windows 8 Developer Preview ISO with you and have already installed Virtualbox on your computer, I now will show you how to use Virtualbox to install your Windows 8 Developer Preview.

1. Start Virtualbox and click on the “NEW” button and then click on next.

2.Give a name for your virtual machine. I called mine “Windows 8 DP”. Choose “Windows 7” if you’re using 32bit system or “Windows 7 64” if you’re using 64bit system.

3. Next, allocate the memory for your Windows 8 VM. Normally 1GB should be enough for 32bit system but if you’re installing a 64bit version, 2GB should be the minimum.

4. You now required to create a Virtual Hard Disk. You can choose either to use dynamic storage which means it grow bigger with time or fixed storage which means it will not exceed the limit you set here. Since this is only a preview and I don’t really recommend using it in live production just yet, leave on default (20GB).

You will then be showed a Summary page. Check the settings and if you’re satisfied then click on Create to begin create your VM.

5. Now that you have your Windows 8 VM, you will need to change a few settings before you can fire it up.

5.1. Choose System tab on the left panel and click on Processor tab. Make sure you tick on Enable PAE/NX.

5.2. Still in System tab, click on Acceleration tab, both Enable VT-x/AMD-V and Enable Nested Paging should be selected.

5.3. Choose Storage tab on the left and click on Empty under IDE Controller. You will see a CD icon next to CD/DVD Drive selection box, click the icon and Choose a virtual CD/DVD disk file. Select the Windows 8 Developer Preview iso and then click OK.

6. There you have it. A fully working Windows 8 Developer Preview on Virtualbox. You can now start your virtual machine and run the installation. I won’t be covering the installation process however I will share with you a few screen shots of my installation (click for bigger picture).

To be honest, this release seems to be working just fine, it just that I hope to see it polished a bit more as right now it felt like the whole thing are just a “cosmetic” layers on top of Windows 7.

So, how about you? Have you installed Windows 8 on your system? What do you think of it and how is your experience? I would love to hear your story of experience installing Windows 8 Developer Preview on your system. You can share it in the comment section below.